Apparatus for applying a label to a package

ABSTRACT

An adhesive coated label is adhibited to a package by first adhering only one edge of the label to the package to positionally secure the label and then applying an even pressure to the surface of the label progressively from one side in order to effect a uniform bond between the label and package. When a heat activated type adhesive is used the label is heated by a radiant type heater prior to the application of pressure. The continuous movement of the package through a radiant heater is effective to provide a complete and even activation of the adhesive coating. Assemblies capable of affixing one or more labels to a continuously moving package or affixing one label to a plurality of consecutive sides of a package are also disclosed.

baited @tates Patent [1 1 Anderson et a1.

[4 1 Mar. 4, 1975 A PACKAGE [75] Inventors: Andrew W. Anderson, WestCaldwell; John P. Mullin, Scotch Plains, both of NJ.

[73] Assignee: Scandia Packaging Machinery Company, Clifton, NJ.

[22] Filed: Jan. 27, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 221,336

[52] U.S. Cl 156/380, 156/477 R, 156/487, 156/499, [56/556, 156/566 [51]llnt. Cl..... B32b 31/20, 1365b 61/26, B65c 9/36 [58] Field of Search...156/487, 486, 477 R, 477 B, 156/499, 556,566, 380

Weimont 156/499 X 2,703,660 3/1955 Von Hofe et a1. 156/499 X 3,054,7159/1962 White 156/477 B UX 3,112,238 11/1963 Caldwell 156/499 3,206,9129/1965 Neubronner 156/487 X Primary Examiner-Douglas J. DrummondAssistant Examiner-Thomas E. .Bokan Attorney, Agent, or FirmMarkva &Smith [57] ABSTRACT An adhesive coated label is adhibited to a packageby first adhering only one edge of the label to the package topositionally secure the label and then applying an even pressure to thesurface of the label progressively from one sidein order to effect auniform bond between the label'and package. When a heat activated typeadhesive is used the label is. heated by a radiant type heater prior tothe application of pressure. The continuous movement of the packagethrough a radiant heater is effective to provide a complete and evenactivation of the adhesive coating. Assemblies capable of affixing oneor more labels to a continuously moving package or affixing one label toa plurality of consecutive sides of a package are also disclosed.

12 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This inventionrelates to a method and apparatus for applying a label to a package. Inparticular the invention is directed to the improved application of oneor more labels to a continuously moving package.

The application of labels to packages or articles and machines forperforming this function have been well known in the prior art. However,it is common knowledge that difficulties still exist, especially whenair is trapped under the label thereby ultimately causing blisters orimperfections to form in the bond.

Additional problems are experienced when labels coated with a heatactivated adhesive are'used. ln-many instances, the heat is appliedthrough the label to reach the adhesive. It has been found that thevariations in colors caused by the printing of the label or possiblyfrom the materials of the ink itself cause reflection or absorption ofthe heat depending upon their characteristics. These variablecharacteristics cause uneven heat transmission to the adhesive coatingresulting in incomplete activation of the adhesive. When the label isapplied to a package, areas usually corresponding to certain parts ofthe printed matter are found to be either not bonded or only partiallybonded to the package surface.

The application of the heat to the label also presents a problem of somemagnitude. Heat has usually been applied by the use ofa heated roller orshoe applied to the top surface of the label. In some cases the heatedshoe is rubbed or wiped across the surface of the label. Both of thesemethods have the tendency of pulling and moving the label with respectto the package so that the label is inaccurately positioned or locatedon the package, again distracting from the appearance of the package.

The problems with the heating of the label and the accurate placement ofthe'label with respect to the package are magnified substantially whenthe label is intended to be wrapped. around several consecutive surfacesof the package.

PURPOSE OF THE INVENTION The present invention has for its object toprovide in a labeling machine an efficient and economical method ofadhibiting a label to a package so that the label is both accuratelypositioned and uniformly bonded to the package.

A further'object is to provide an apparatus for adhering a label to apackage whereby the label is positionally secured with respect to thepackage prior to the final complete bonding of the label to the packagesurface.

Another object of this invention is to provide a means for heating athermal setting adhesive on a label to completely and fully activate theadhesive coating prior to the bonding operation. A further object is tominimize the effect ofthe label material with respect to heat conductionto the adhesive coating.

Another object of the invention is to provide an economical andefficient means forapplying labels to a series of packages at a highrate of speed and yet produce a completely bonded label in the desiredlocation.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide asource ofheat for the label adhesive activa- LII tion where no actual mechanicalcontact with the label is required which might disturb the position ofthe label.

SUMMARY OF THE llNVENTION An apparatus of this invention comprises meansfor moving packages along a supporting table surface and means forapplying labels in various arrangements to the surface of the movingpackage after preliminarily positionally fixing the location of thelabel with respect to the package surface.

An initial partial application of a label to the package is for thepurpose of positionally securing the label to the package. Only one edgeportion of the label is secured to the package thus providing a simplemeans of fixing its position prior to the later steps of effecting acomplete and uniform bond. An even pressure is then applied to thesurface of the label progressively across the balance of the entire.surface from the fixed edge portion in order to effect a homogeneousbond across the entire label. In this way, an entrapment under the labelis prevented thereby prohibiting voids or incomplete adhesion. Thus,when the label and package are subjected to humidity or hot and coldtemperatures, the formation of blisters is prevented.

A radiant type heater is provided for effectively activating thoselabels which are coated with a thermal setting type adhesive prior tothe later application of pressure. The use ofa radiant heater has beenfound necessary in this situation .to completely and effectivelyactivate the adhesive by absorbing heat through the label itself withoutregard to the color or the ink composition on the label. The radiantheater supplies the necessary heat yet does not physically contact thelabel to possi bly disturb its position.

Various arrangements are provided with the present invention so thatnumerous label arrangements and various sizes of labels can be appliedwith this apparatus. A turret wheel is provided to aid in the adhibitingof the label or labels to the package. This wheel also provides a meansfor rotating or turning-over the package so that the labels can beproperly positioned.

A wrap around type label utilizing an elongated label arrangement can beapplied to a plurality of consecutive sides of a package by use of thisinvention. The label is adhered to a first side by the arrangementdescribed above and then wrapped and folded around the adjacentconsecutive sides of the package producing a uniform bond on theadditional sides. The folding and wrapping is accomplished by theprogressive application of pressure tothe label surfaces as the packageis rotated in the turret wheel. It is to be understood that any numberof label applying stations and rotating or positioning means may beprovided to apply any num ber of labels or labels having anyconfiguration desired.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Other features of this invention willappear in the following description and appended claims, reference beingmade to the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specificationwherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in theseveral views.

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a labeling apparatus constructed inaccordance with theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view showing a turret wheel and anadditional section to the apparatus shown in FIG. 1; 1

' invention;

FIG. 7 shows a fragmentary top elevational view at the label feedingstation of FIG. 6.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS More specifically, the apparatus,generally designated 10, comprises a table or platform 11 having aconventional support structure including side members 12, Band endmember 14. The apparatuslO is designed as a basic unit to whichadditional sections providing other capabilities may be added asdesired. A label attaching mechanism 31 is disposed along the path ofmovement for the package P. The labels L are 'fed from the magazine 39to the label applying wheel 38 via the friction wheel 36 mounted onshaft 35 as shown. A roller 38a is disposed in rolling contact with theapplying wheel 38 to hold the label L and feed it around the wheel 38.See in particular FIGS. 6 and 7. The heater shoe 40 heats solely an edgeportion of the label L as it is fed around the applying wheel 38. Thepressure roller 38b is attached to arm 86 that is pivotally mounted onshaft 88. Spring 87 is provided to hold the roller 38b in an elevatedposition, thereby allowing the package P to pass underneath yet apply abonding pressure to the surface of the label L. The roller 38b isaligned with the heater shoe 40 to contact the heated edge of the labelL. Any type of pressure member and mechanism may be used to effect thedesired results which are to positionally secure the label L to thepackage P solely along one edge portion thereof.

Heat is applied to the package P along with the partially attachedlabelL as the package P is moved along the surface 11. The heat element41 in this specific embodiment is a radiant type heater. It has beendiscovered that radiant heat energy will penetrate the material used inthe label L regardless of the color variations in the printing orvariations in the composition of the material itself.

After the label L has been heated thoroughly, the pressure rollers 42apply a pressure to the surface of the label progressively from the oneedge portion thereby obtaining a complete and uniform bond between thelabel L and the package P. This pressure apthe embodiments shown inFIGS. 2, 3, and 4, a turret wheel 44 is provided to turn the packageover for the purpose ofapplying a portion of the label or another labelto additional sides of the package P. The turret wheel 44 includes sixslots 47 designed to hold packages P as they are inserted therein byconveyor means used in conjunction with the apparatus of FIG. 1. Theturret wheel 44 is mounted on a shaft 45 and is driven intermittently bya Geneva wheel 46. The shaft 45 is journaled in the side members 12 and13.

plying function securely adheres the label L to the package P withoutthe formation ofblisters or voids. It is understood that any type ofpressure roller or material may be used in the composition of rollers42, such as silicon type rollers or the like. It is also understood thatany type of radiant heat source can be used with this embodiment such asan electric or gas fired burner arrangement.

After passing onto the rollers 42, the package P is moved onto the tableextension 43 for further processing such as overwrapping or furtherapplication of labels thereto. The apparatus-as shown in FIG. 1 may beattached in sequence with any of the assemblies as shown in FIGS. 2, 3or 4, depending upon the type of label that is being applied to thepackage P. In each of Any type of conveyor means may be used to move thepackage P through the assembly of FIGS. 1-4. In

this specific embodiment, however, the pulley 15 is connected to theshaft 16 which in turn drives the drive pulley 17. The shaft 18 isdriven by the pulley- 19 and chain 20. The double chain 22 interconnectsthe shafts l6 and 18 by sprockets 23 and 24, respectively. Pusherelements 22a are spaced along the chain 22 for moving the packages Palong the table surface 11. Drive chain sprocket 26 is connected to theshaft 18 and in turn drives the push chain 27 and the sprocket 28connected to the shaft 29. The chain 27 has push elements 27a connectedthereto which are adapted to move the packages P along the table surface11 and into communication with the chain 22 and pusher members 22a forcontinuous movement across the table surface 11. The sprocket 30 whichis connected to the shaft 18 drives the label attaching mechanism 31.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, a heater block includingheater elements 51 is mounted on a bracket 48 above the turret wheel 44.A wiping brush 52 is mounted on bracket 49. The heater block 50 and thewiping brush 52 are arranged approximately 60 from each other and bothare arranged approximately 60 from the surface ofthe table 11. Thepackages P retained in the slots 47 align with the heater block and thewiping brush during the intermediate stop motion of the turret wheel 44turned by the Geneva wheel 46. The overlapping portion of the label L isthus heated by the heater block 50 during the package pause.

In the next step movement, the label L is wiped against the end of thepackage P as it moves into position adjacent the wiping brush 52. Thus,the overlapping end of the label L is heated and wiped into pressurecontact for adhering the end of the label to the end of the package inthese two steps. The turret wheel 44 in the next step movement isaligned again with the surface of the table l1 so that the package P maybe picked up by a conveyor mechanism and removed from the turret wheel44. w

The pulley 15 is connected to the shaft 55 by means of chain 53 andsprocket 54. Pinion gear 56 is connected to shaft 55 and arranged todrivingly mesh with the drive gear 57.Drive gear 57 is attached to shaft58 and drives the conventional Geneva wheel 46. The shaft 55 carriesdrive sprockets 59 which drive the double push chain 60 andend-sprockets 61 mounted on shaft 62. If desired, a drive mechanism suchas sprocket 63 mounted on shaft 55 can be used to drive the auxiliaryshaft 62 through the chain 64 and sprocket 65.

A motor M is located below the side member 13 and interconnected to theshaft 55 by a drive pulley 63, belt 64, and driven pulley 65 attached tothe shaft 55. If desired, the attachment of the driven pulley 65 to theshaft 55 may be accomplished through a clutch 66 and hand wheel 67. Theclutch 66 is incorporated to pro- In FIG; 3, additional elements areprovided for the application of labels which are of sufficient sizetooverlap both the front, back and one side of the package. The elementsused in applying the label are identical to those shown in FIGS. l and 2including the turret wheel 44. It is understood that the turret wheel 44is used to rotate the package P and move it from a position where oneside-is exposed, to a position where the opposite side is exposed. Thelabel L is first attached to the front side of the package P. Theextended label L is caused to wrap around and be attached to the end ofthe package as described in H6. 2. i

In the embodiment of FIG. 3, a second wiping brush 70 is positionedabove the table extension surface 11a so as to bend and fold theadditional length of label L downwardly and and along the oppositesurface of the package P as its moves along the surface 11a. A secondradiant type heater 71 is provided to thoroughly heat the labelextension and activate the adhesive coating.

The package P is then moved along the surface 11a into pressure contactwith the rollers 72.

A second label is applied to the package P in the embodiment of FIG. 4.In this embodiment, the shaft 55 and sprocket. 59 drive a chain 74 whichis threaded over sprocket 76 attached to shaft 75. Push elements 77 arespaced at intervals along the length ofthe moving chain '74. A secondlabel applying mechanism 78 is positioned along the auxiliary table 11aimmediately down stream of the turret wheel 4-4. The original firstlabel is designed to overlap only the top side and the end of thepackage P. A second separate label is applied to the opposite side ofthe package. Again only a one edge portion of the label is heated topositionally fix it to the package in a predetermined manner before theadhesion of the remaining portion. The second label applying meansincludes the label magazine 79, the label feeding mechanism 82 and thelabel applying drum 8U, roller 80a and heating shoe 81. Pressure roller80b is also provided to adhere the edge portion of the label to thepackage. The package P is passed under a second radiant type heater 83whereby the label adhesive coating is thoroughly heated and activated.The pressure rollers 84 then apply-pressure to the fixed labelprogressively from the leading edge towards the rear of the package. Thepackage continues to a sorting or collating area for boxing or storage.

Whilethe method and apparatus for applying a label to a package has beenshown and described in detail, it is obvious that this invention is notto be considered as being limited to the exact form disclosed, and thatchanges in detail and construction may be made therein within the scopeof the invention, without departing from the spirit thereof.

Having thus set forth and disclosed the nature of this invention, whatis claimed is:

1. In a labeling machine including means for moving a package in a pathalong a support means, the combination comprising:

a. securing means for positionally securing a label to the packagesolely along one edge portion thereof and in a direction parallel to thedirection of movement of the package along said path,

b. meansfor applying pressure progressively pressing the balance of thelabel from said edge portion across the surface of the package to obtaina complete and uniform bonde between the label and the package.

2. An apparatus for applying labels to packages comprising:

a. securing means for positionally securing a label to the packagesolely along one edge portion thereof,

b. said label including a heat activated adhesive coating disposedthereon,

c. said securing means including. a first heating means to activate theadhesive along said label edge portion, and v v d. adhibiting meansseparate from the securing means for progressively pressing the balanceof the label from said edge portion across the surface of the package toobtain a complete and uniform bond between the label and the package,

e. said adhibiting means including a second heating means for activatingthe adhesive on the balance of the surface portion across the entiresurface of the label other than said edge portion and means for pressingthe heat activated adhesive side of the label against the package.

3. An apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said second heating meansincludes a radiant type heater.

4. An apparatus for applying labels to packages comprising:

a. securing means for positionally securing a label to the packagesolely along one edge portion thereof,

b. said label including a heat activated adhesive coating disposedthereon,

c. said securing means including a first heating means to activate theadhesive along said label edge portion,

d. adhibiting means separate from the securing means for progressivelypressing the balance of the label from said edge portion across thesurface of the package to obtainv a complete and uniform bond betweenthe label and the package,

e. said adhibiting means including a second heating means for activatingthe adhesive on the balance of the surface portion across the entiresurface of the label other than said edge portion and means for pressingthe heat activated adhesive side of the label against the package,

f. said adhibiting means including ameans to wipe consecutive sides ofthe package so that a label which is positioned to extend beyond theedgeof a first side of the package in an overlapping relationship theretowould be progressively wiped and adhered to the package.

5. An apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein a package rotating meansis provided to move the package past the wiping means,

said wiping means being positioned adjacent the rotating means to pressthe label against the consecu- I 3,869,330 7 8 tive sides of the packageas the rotating means roeach said securing means includes a firstheating tates. means to activate the adhesive along said label 6. Anapparatus for applying a plurality of labels to edge portion, a packagecomprising: each said adhibiting means includes a second heating a. alabel attaching assembly disposed along a path of means for activatingthe adhesive on the balance of movement for the package to secure eachlabel in a consecutive order,

b. each said label attaching assembly including securing means forposition-ally securing the label tothe the surface portion across theentire surface of the label other than said edge portion and means forpressing the heat activated adhesive side of the label against thepackage.

package solely along one edge portion thereof and 10 9. An apparatus asdefined in claim 8 wherein separate adhibiting means for progressivelypresseach said second heating means comprises a, radiant ing the balanceof the label from said edge portion type heater. 'across the surface ofthe package to obtain a com- 10. An apparatus for applying labels topackages plete and uniform bond between the label and the comprising:package, and a. conveyor means for moving each package along a c. meansdisposed between the label attaching assempath,

blies to change the position of the package to exb. securing means forpositionally securing a label to pose a different surface portion ontowhich a furthe package solely along one edge portion that exther labelis applied. tends in a direction parallel to the direction of 7 Anapparatus for attaching two labels to a package movement along saidpath, and comprising: 0. adhibiting means separate from the securingmeans a. a label applying assembly disposed along a path of forprogressively pressing the balance of the label movement for the packageto secure each label in from said edge portion across the surface of thea consective order, package to obtain a complete and uniform bond b.each said label attaching assembly including securbetween the label andthe package.

ing means for positionally securing-the label to the 11. An apparatus asdefined in claim 10 wherein package solely along one edge portionthereof and said adhibiting means includes a means to wipe conseparateadhibiting means for progressively presssecutive sides of the package sothat a label which ing the balance of the label from said edge portionis positioned to extend beyond the edge of a first across the surface ofthe package to obtain a comside of the package in an overlappingrelationship plete and uniform bond between the label and the theretowill be progressively wipe and adhered to package, and v the package. c.apackage rotating means disposed between the 12. An apparatus as definedin claim 11 wherein two label applying assemblies whereby the packagethe label includes a heat activated'adhesive coating is turned over toexpose the opposite side of the disposed thereon, package to the secondlabel applying assembly said securing means includes a first heatingmeans after passing the first label applying assembly. having a heatershoe disposed along one edge of 8. An apparatus as defined in claim 7wherein the label to activate the adhesive along said label each saidlabel includes a heat activated adhesive edge portion.

coating disposed thereon, 40

1. In a labeling machine including means for moving a package in a pathalong a support means, the combination comprising: a. securing means forpositionally securing a label to the package solely along one edgeportion thereof and in a direction parallel to the direction of movementof the package along said path, b. means for applying pressureprogressively pressing the balance of the label from said edge portionacross the surface of the package to obtain a complete and uniform bondebetween the label and the package.
 2. An apparatus for applying labelsto packages comprising: a. securing means for positionally securing alabel to the package solely along one edge portion thereof, b. saidlabel including a heat activated adhesive coating disposed thereon, c.said securing means including a first heating means to activate theadhesive along said label edge portion, and d. adhibiting means separatefrom the securing means for progressively pressing the balance of thelabel from said edge portion across the surface of the package to obtaina complete and uniform bond between the label and the package, e. saidadhibiting means including a second heating means for activating theadhesive on the balance of the surface portion across the entire surfaceof the label other than said edge portion and means for pressing theheat activated adhesive side of The label against the package.
 3. Anapparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said second heating meansincludes a radiant type heater.
 4. An apparatus for applying labels topackages comprising: a. securing means for positionally securing a labelto the package solely along one edge portion thereof, b. said labelincluding a heat activated adhesive coating disposed thereon, c. saidsecuring means including a first heating means to activate the adhesivealong said label edge portion, d. adhibiting means separate from thesecuring means for progressively pressing the balance of the label fromsaid edge portion across the surface of the package to obtain a completeand uniform bond between the label and the package, e. said adhibitingmeans including a second heating means for activating the adhesive onthe balance of the surface portion across the entire surface of thelabel other than said edge portion and means for pressing the heatactivated adhesive side of the label against the package, f. saidadhibiting means including a means to wipe consecutive sides of thepackage so that a label which is positioned to extend beyond the edge ofa first side of the package in an overlapping relationship thereto wouldbe progressively wiped and adhered to the package.
 5. An apparatus asdefined in claim 4 wherein a package rotating means is provided to movethe package past the wiping means, said wiping means being positionedadjacent the rotating means to press the label against the consecutivesides of the package as the rotating means rotates.
 6. An apparatus forapplying a plurality of labels to a package comprising: a. a labelattaching assembly disposed along a path of movement for the package tosecure each label in a consecutive order, b. each said label attachingassembly including securing means for positionally securing the label tothe package solely along one edge portion thereof and separateadhibiting means for progressively pressing the balance of the labelfrom said edge portion across the surface of the package to obtain acomplete and uniform bond between the label and the package, and c.means disposed between the label attaching assemblies to change theposition of the package to expose a different surface portion onto whicha further label is applied.
 7. An apparatus for attaching two labels toa package comprising: a. a label applying assembly disposed along a pathof movement for the package to secure each label in a consective order,b. each said label attaching assembly including securing means forpositionally securing the label to the package solely along one edgeportion thereof and separate adhibiting means for progressively pressingthe balance of the label from said edge portion across the surface ofthe package to obtain a complete and uniform bond between the label andthe package, and c. a package rotating means disposed between the twolabel applying assemblies whereby the package is turned over to exposethe opposite side of the package to the second label applying assemblyafter passing the first label applying assembly.
 8. An apparatus asdefined in claim 7 wherein each said label includes a heat activatedadhesive coating disposed thereon, each said securing means includes afirst heating means to activate the adhesive along said label edgeportion, each said adhibiting means includes a second heating means foractivating the adhesive on the balance of the surface portion across theentire surface of the label other than said edge portion and means forpressing the heat activated adhesive side of the label against thepackage.
 9. An apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein each said secondheating means comprises a radiant type heater.
 10. An apparatus forapplying labels to packages comprising: a. conveyor means for movingeach package along a path, b. securing means for positionally securing alabel to the package soleLy along one edge portion that extends in adirection parallel to the direction of movement along said path, and c.adhibiting means separate from the securing means for progressivelypressing the balance of the label from said edge portion across thesurface of the package to obtain a complete and uniform bond between thelabel and the package.
 11. An apparatus as defined in claim 10 whereinsaid adhibiting means includes a means to wipe consecutive sides of thepackage so that a label which is positioned to extend beyond the edge ofa first side of the package in an overlapping relationship thereto willbe progressively wipe and adhered to the package.
 12. An apparatus asdefined in claim 11 wherein the label includes a heat activated adhesivecoating disposed thereon, said securing means includes a first heatingmeans having a heater shoe disposed along one edge of the label toactivate the adhesive along said label edge portion.